The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has designated North Korea as a country in need of external food assistance for the 19th consecutive year.
North Korean residents planting rice seedlings with a rice transplanter in May last year. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 7th (local time), FAO released a list of 45 countries requiring external food assistance in its "Crop Prospects and Food Situation" report.
The report diagnosed that food consumption levels in North Korea are low and residents are unable to consume a balanced variety of food groups. It added, "Food insecurity remains a concern during the upcoming lean season from May to September."
Since FAO began this survey in 2007, North Korea has consistently been designated as a 'country in need of external food assistance.' Among the 45 countries requiring external food aid, 33 are in Africa, 9 in Asia, 2 in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 1 in Europe. In Europe, Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, was included.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
